OKR10 Construction Stormwater

Overview

Stormwater runoff from construction sites carries significant amounts of sediment and other pollutants which have the potential to harm streams, lakes, and wetlands. As stormwater flows over a construction site, it can pick up pollutants like sediment, debris, and chemicals, and transport these to a nearby municipal storm sewer system or directly to a stream, lake, or wetland. Sediment in waterbodies from construction sites can reduce the amount of sunlight reaching aquatic plants, clog fish gills, smother aquatic habitat and spawning areas, and high volumes of runoff can cause stream bank erosion and impede navigation. Controlling erosion and sediment can significantly reduce the amount of sedimentation and other pollutants transported by stormwater runoff from construction sites. The Oklahoma Pollution Discharge Elimination System (OPDES) stormwater program, authorized by the NPDES stormwater permitting program, requires construction site owners/operators to obtain coverage under the OPDES Construction General Permit OKR10 to discharge stormwater from their construction sites and implement appropriate pollution prevention controls/techniques to minimize pollutants and reduce stormwater runoff.

A permit is required before construction activity can start at a site. Discharge of stormwater from a construction site without first obtaining a permit from DEQ is in violation of Title 27A O.S. §2-6-205 of the Oklahoma Statutes. As part of the application, the owner and/or operator must develop and implement a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) to minimize pollutants and reduce stormwater runoff. The applicant may need additional permit coverage from the city/county government for the construction site. The applicant must check with them before submitting a Notice of Intent (NOI) to DEQ.

For more information about construction stormwater, please view: OKR10 Construction Activities Fact Sheet

Who Needs a Permit and How to Apply

Who needs a Permit?

You will need an OKR10 permit if you are the owner or operator for any construction activity disturbing:

One acre or more, or
Less than one acre if that activity is part of a “larger common plan of development or sale” that is greater than one acre.

For more assistance in determining whether an OKR10 permit is required for your project, please refer to: OKR10 Decision Flow Chart

How to Apply for a Permit?

Before filling out an NOI, understand the requirements of the current OKR10 General Permit for Construction Activity, identify the latitude and longitude of the entrance gate of the facility, identify the receiving water body, check whether the facility is located along a Sensitive Water or in a Sensitive Watershed or a Scenic River Watershed, and prepare a new or update an existing Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWP3) in accordance with the requirements of the OKR10 Permit.

Completed NOI (Construction Stormwater Notice of Intent (PDF))
Site map(s) of your facility, and
Payment for all applicable fees (Application fee of $100 plus, for new construction site/projects, annual fee of $347.71. Note: Existing permittees will be invoiced for the annual fee.)

You can submit your NOI and pay the fees using a credit card (only Visa or Master Card are accepted) through DEQ’s online NOI system by clicking on the button at the top of this page.

Alternatively, if submitting your NOI by mail, you can pay by attaching a check for the applicable fees payable to DEQ with your NOI or by calling DEQ Finance at (405) 702-1130.

Where to sign a permit application (NOI)?

Corporation: a principal executive officer of at least the level of vice president or a designated corporate official.
Limited Liability Company (LLC): any member, managing or otherwise.
Partnership: by a general partner
Sole proprietorship: the proprietor (owner).
Municipal, state, federal, or other public facility: a principal executive officer or ranking elected official

Note: A consultant can prepare, but cannot sign, an NOI.

Where to Submit an NOI?

Online

Click on the “Online Application” button at the top of this page to prepare and submit your NOI package online.

Buttons for written instructions and a walk-through video for registering and using the online application system can also be found at the top of this page.

Mailing Address

Stormwater Unit of ECLS

Oklahoma DEQ

707 N Robinson Ave

P. O. Box 1677

Oklahoma City, OK, 73101-1677

Fax

(405) 702-6226

Email

ECLS-StormwaterPermitting@deq.ok.gov

If you have questions about your NOI submittal, please contact the Stormwater Unit of ECLS at (405) 702-6100.

NOI Processing Time

NOI processing time is approximately 14 days from the date of receipt.

Construction Stormwater Templates and Additional Information

Templates

Note that templates are suggestive; these are not part of the permit. Applicant may choose to use any or part of the templates or make their own to meet the permit requirements.

DEQ Construction SWP3 Template (pdf)

DEQ Construction SWP3 Template (word)

SWP3 Modification Log

Inspection Report

Corrective Action Report

Employee Training Report

Grading and Stabilization Log

Quarterly Visual Monitoring Report

Additional Information

List of Regulated MS4 Operators

OKR10 Construction Activities Fact Sheet

OKR10 Decision Flow Chart

OKR10 Permitting Timeline

Notice of Termination Checklist

Endangered and Threatened Species Guidance

ARC- Endangered Species Eligibility Map

Useful Links

EPA’s construction inspection training course and exam are now available for use by any interested individual. The course is available at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/construction-inspection-training-course. The training is provided at no cost to the public.
Construction site latitude and longitude and receiving waterbody information can be found on the DEQ website at http://gis.deq.ok.gov/maps/
A video tutorial to help determine whether a SWP3 submittal is required can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCI5NkPuwa0
Cause of impairment and TMDL information can be found on the DEQ website at www.deq.state.ok.us/wqdnew/305b_303d/index.html
Soil types of construction site can be found on the USDA’swebsite at http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx
Annual rainfall data can be found on the Masonet’s website at https://www.mesonet.org/index.php/weather/category/rainfall
Information on the rainfall/precipitation, temperature, and sunshine for different cities in Oklahoma can be found on the US Climate Data website at https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/oklahoma/united-states/3206 .
Minnesota Stormwater Manual, a great source of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) and guidance document, can be found at https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=Main_Page
Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia, which includes new stormwater BMPs and a process for alternative BMPs can be found at https://gaswcc.georgia.gov/technical-guidance
Information on different stormwater BMPs and Construction Inspector Training are available in the Oklahoma Water Survey of Oklahoma University’s website at http://www.ou.edu/okh2o/resources
Fact Sheets of different BMPs can be found on the EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-discharges-construction-activities
EPA Stormwater Program can be found at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/npdes-stormwater-program